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by Tamar Love Grande
Published 2001 on SFStation.com
Depending on your perspective, Potrero
Hill can seem like a sunny oasis amidst the homelessness, dirt and urban
sprawl of the neighboring Mission and SoMa districts or a haven for
dot-commers, digerati and Internet yuppies. However, echoing the
melting-pot tradition of change, acceptance and versatility upon which San
Francisco was built, Potrero Hill is both--and more.
Traditionally defined
as the area south of 16th Street between Potrero, Army/Cesar Chavez and
Highway 280, Potrero Hill is rapidly becoming more than the eclectic and
affordable housing district it once was. The Internet boom has brought new
business to the neighborhood, expanding its parameters both economically
and physically. Live/work spaces abound throughout the neighborhood,
providing high-paying jobs not only for neighborhood residents, but also
for commuters, whose cars have brought an end to the district's
once-abundant parking situation.
The boundaries of the neighborhood have
expanded to include the once-industrial area abutting SoMa's design
quadrant, north of 16th Street, east of Potrero and south of Division,
where design firms, dot-coms, posh shops and fancy little eateries have
nudged out the industrial, glassmaking, printing and lithographic
businesses that once filled the neighborhood.
But dot-com fallout
notwithstanding, Potrero Hill is still one of San Francisco's best-kept
residential secrets. Those lucky (or smart) enough to have nabbed a spot
in Potrero Hill when it was still affordable enjoy spectacular views and
relative peace and quiet among the neighborhood's startlingly steep hills,
tucked-away corners and eclectic architecture.
Despite the area's economic
and population increase, Potrero Hill remains a very residential
neighborhood, filled with parks, playgrounds, schools and community
services such as the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, which houses a
community meeting space and a multi-ethnic theater. From the sprawling San
Francisco General Hospital complex at Potrero and 23rd, to the homeless
shelters on 16th Street, to the community gardens on Vermont, to the
low-income housing projects on the Army/Cesar Chavez side, to the public
library on 20th Street, Potrero Hill is a self-contained urban
suburb.
The main strip on 18th Street
between Texas and Connecticut features wonderful restaurants and
neighborhood services. Favorite eateries include North Star Restaurant,
Eliza's, Goat Hill Pizza and Thai Thanya and Salee Restaurant. Don't miss
the brunch at Just For You, and try to stop in for a cup of joe at
Farley's coffee shop. Christopher's Books is a wonderful independent
bookstore where buyers add a picture of their pet to the store's wall of
fame. Other services include an ice cream parlor, video rentals, an
amazing appliance repair store and several other interesting little
shops.
Shopping in Potrero Hill reflects the eclectic quality of
the neighborhood. Antique shops are abundant throughout the lower areas of
Potrero Hill, as are design studios, fabric stores and housewares stores.
Dandelion stocks the widest and most unique selection of gifts in San
Francisco at affordable prices. Take the kids to Basic Brown Bears, where
they can tour the teddy bear factory, then make their own bear. Or spend
an hour browsing through the rare plants at Potrero Gardens.
Like the rest
of San Francisco, Potrero Hill offers an abundance of watering holes,
including the Lilo Lounge, a Polynesian paradise, and Connecticut Yankee,
one of the best sports bars in the city. For booze and music, check out
the Bottom of the Hill, where knowledgeable music fans from around the Bay
come to see new artists and eat free Sunday barbecue. Or skip the
middleman and head directly for the Anchor Steam Brewery, where guests can
tour by reservation or buy large quantities of San Francisco's favorite
brew.
Potrero Hill
Neighborhood House
953 De Haro Street @
22nd
415-826-8080
Designed by architect Julia Morgan, this San
Francisco landmark venue is both a community meeting place and a home to
the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House Multi-Ethnic Theatre, which presents
three plays a year.
North Star Restaurant
288 Connecticut
Street @ 18th
415-551-9840
Eliza's
1457 18th
Street
415-648-9999
Excellent Chinese cuisine offered in a
beautiful setting.
Goat Hill Pizza
300 Connecticut Street
@ 18th
415-641-1440
Traditional pizza parlor/sports bar combo
offering delicious thin-crust sourdough pies and live jazz or piano
Thursday through Saturday.
Thanya and Salee
1469 18th
Street
415-647-6469
Yummy Thai restaurant adjunct to the Lilo
Lounge.
Just For You Bakery and Cafe
1453 18th
Street
415-647-3033
Tiny cafe serving hearty, Midwest-style
breakfasts.
Farley's Coffeehouse
1315 18th
Street
415-648-1545
Coffehouse with outdoor seating, stunning views
and Internet access.
Christopher's Books
1400 18th
Street
415-255-8802
Famous for its pet wall of fame, this tiny
independent, named for the owner's dog, sells new books only. Good
selection of art books and books by local
authors.
Dandelion
55 Potrero Avenue
415-436-9500
A well-stocked gift store featuring exquisite Japanese and themed
gifts.
Basic Brown Bear Factory
444 De Haro
Street
415-626-0781
A 45-minute tour of this factory is held daily
at 1 o'clock. Reservations are necessary for groups larger than eight and
the cost is $9 per person, which includes a bear kids can make
themselves.
Potrero Gardens
1201 17th Street @
Texas
415-861-8220
An eclectic nursery selling houseplants, flowers,
shrubs and trees. The emphasis is on the unusual, including rare species
of trees, herbs and bulbs.
Connecticut Yankee
100
Connecticut Street
415-552-4440
Great spot for beer, sports and
drunken conversation. One of the Bay's best bars, the Yankee serves up
hearty carnivore fare and a surprisingly delicious Caesar salad. Enjoy
Sunday brunch on the patio.
Lilo Lounge
1469 18th
Street
415-643-LOST
Retro-hip Polynesian bar attached to Thanya and
Salee. Fabulous girl drinks and stiff martinis.
Bottom of the
Hill
1233 17th Street
415-621-4455
The Bottom of the Hill is
a popular, safe and loud place to see live shows ranging from major-label
acts to local new artistes. Cake, Pavement, Sleater-Kinney and the Beastie
Boys have all played here in recent years.
Anchor Brewing
Co.
1705 Mariposa
415-863-8350
Take a tour of San Francisco's
oldest brewery, which has been producing its signature ale for over 100
years.
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